Omaha daily bee., 1887-05-30

had constructed in this country a
large building which could be
erected and again taken down
in sections. They expected to exhibit
in this structure, but rival French man.
ayers invoked the opposition of n law
forhddng the erection of frame build.
ings in Paris, and so fhe Yankee inven.
ton proved worthless. Rice bought the
arrangement and showed 1t all over this
country. During the season that he ap.
pearcd IN New York inside this structure
he suffered scvercly y from financial re.
verses, brought on by his lack of bust.
ness tact. SO serious was his condition
that he found himself unable to leave the
city to keep up engagements in Phlladcl.
pha and Baltimore. But his spirits were
not crushed by the aspect of affairs, and
at the head of the three.sheet posters
with which he placarded the town ap.
peared in Mammoth letters the announce.
ment Dan Rice Can't GctAway'' The
boldness and wit OF the clown so amused
the late Avery Smith that he loaned Rice
sufficient money to bring him to this city,
where he was always sure of welcome
and a fat purse.
When the war broke out Rice found
himself with steamboat show on the
Mississippi river and within the southern
lines. He was under engagement to APP
pear in Mobile, Memphis, and other
towns within the confederacy. In this
dclmna he was unpatriotic enough to
hoist the rebel flag and continue on his
prearrangcd course He gradually
steamed north however, and when
within the union lines he flung the stars
and stripes to the breeze. That ne
later made some amend for his seeming
treason is still shown III an enduring
manner in the town of Erie this state
There is there erected n handsome sol.
Al ~. To ,,,;,,
ami on its base these words are cut
"To the memory of the soldiers of Erie
county who fell IN the defense of their
country. Erected by Colonel Daniel
Rice"
1t is impossible for the boys of to-day
to understand the popular enthusiasm
that Dan Rice's appearance aroused. II
is no eXaggcration to say that he was one
of the biggest men in the country. Dur
ing one of the presidential campaigns he
had Broadway lying banners bearing
tins legion:
For President, Colonel Dan Rice, of
Penn"
His agents laughed about it and used
it as an advertising scheme, but the
famous clown, whose head had been
slightly turned by adulteration, entered
INTO the matter seriously. Even when
his dream was dissipated he still strenu
ously insisted that at least he should be
sent to congress. Forepaugh found him
such an attraction that during the season
of 1865, think, he paid him the sum of
S25, 1000 to become an adjunct to the Fore
paugh show. The following two seasons
he received a salary of $4,000 which is
the highest ever paid in the circus busi-
| ness.
His downfall began with the desertion
of his wife, who aftcrward became Mrs
Charles Warren. He began drinking to
excess, and thenceforth managers found
him unmanagcable and unreliable. Re-
pcated efforts have recently been made
to WOO him from his ways and utilize his
powers as a popular entertainer. Within
II few years he went to California with
John Roblnson's show, and was greeted
with an ovation. The old 49ers took his
horses from the carriage and pulled the
famous jester through the streets; Thou
sands packed the tent 10 gaze upon him,
but he did not appear. It was the same
old story. He is now living in Cincin-
natl, depending upon the kindness of
friends for the necessares of life.
One word tells of his downfall-"rum. ="
For fear of loosing days work, many